Well system



March 17, 1959 G. F. MORRISON ETAL WELL SYSTEM 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledJune 17, 1957 6o /ENTOR.: Gemme F. Monmsan Caeoaeeaeul. HER AN C.FReNzal.

March 17, 1959 G. F. MORRISON ET AL WELL SYSTEM I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledJune 17, 1957 TU. mi? u TRR N ma R VO .R o omMBF n 8 /o F.Q 5 n. eA ooG. um .f l

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Fac-L 3 United @rates Patent WELL SYSTEM George F. Morrison, George B.Breul, and Herman C. Frentzel, Milwaukee, Wis., assignors to TheMorrison Company, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of WisconsinApplication June 17, 1957, Serial No. 666,086

22 Claims. (Cl. 16d- 67) This invention relates to a pitless type watersystem which is easily installed and does not complicate maintenance ofthe system.

In recent years the pump industry has devoted considerable attention toprovision of a satisfactory pitless well system and the solutions oieredto date are subject to various objections. All are of such questionablenature as to be approved for residential use only. In most casesservicing the pump becomes a major problem due to the obstructions toready access to the pump. The presently available units also call forextensive excavation, cutting and welding at the site, thus making theinstallation a major undertaking and precluding approval for commercialuse under the sanitary codes.

Theprincipal object of this invention is to provide an easily installed,readily serviced pitless well system which meets all sanitary coderequirements.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a system at lowcost.

Still another object is to provide a well cap adapter which both capsthe well and connects to the pressure tank.

Other objects and advantages will be pointed out in, or be apparentfrom, the specication and claims, as will obvious modifications of thedouble embodiment shown in the drawings in which:

Figure l is a vertical section through the well system;

Figure 2 is a vertical section along line 2-2 in Figure l;

Figure 3 is a horizontal section along line 3-3 in Figure l;

Figure 4 is a vertical section through a modied structure which hascertain advantages over the irst modification; and

Figure 5 is a vertical section on line 5 5 in Figure 4.

Figures 1 3 show the present invention applied to a submersible pumpwell system wherein the well casing it) projects above grade at least 8inches and encloses the water delivery pipe 12 connected to the outletof the submersible pump, Cast well cap 14 is provided with a downwardlyfacing annular seat 16 adapted to rest on the top of the well casing l0with a suitable gasket l@ therebetween. Centrally of the cap seat 16there is located a downwardly opening conduit 20 which is adapted tothread on the upper end of pipe 12. As may be seen in the drawingconduit Ztl directs the flow past check valve 22 biased to its seat 24by spring 26 compressed between the valve and head 28 of pin 3i)threaded into the valve seat member 24. Thus when the pump builds upsufficient water pressure valve 22 will be unseated to let water ow intolchamber 32 in the well cap 14. Water flows from chamber 32, to drainpipe 34 suitably sealed by packing 36 compressed by nut 33. Drain pipe34 runs parallel with pump pipe i2 into tting 40 on the top of pressuretank 42. Within the pressure tank a second drain pipe 44 is threaded inthe fitting 40 and projects down to a position close to the bottom ofpressure tank.

The submersible pump delivering water through pipe f"ee l2 to the wellcap builds up suicient pressure to open valve 22 and permit iiow throughdrain pipe 34 into the pressure tank 42. When the pump is 4Vde-energizedthe pump delivery pipe 12 and drain pipe 34 must be drained to preventfreezing. In order to drain pipe 12 a suitable drain hole 46 is providedin the pipe below the frost line and conduit 2i) is provided withsnifter valve 4d (which is merely a check valve permitting air to bleedfrom the well casing into the upper end of the pipe and into conduit 20)to facilitate rapid draining of pipe i2 to a point below the frost line.Vacuum breaker hole Sil in the upper portion of pipe 44 in the air spacein the pressure tank insures draining pipe 314. Thus, water can run downinto the pressure tank with the air replacing it through the breakerhole.

The pressure tank may either be clamped on the well casing by means oftop clamp 52 and bottom clamp 54 with the top clamp running around thefitting 4t) and the bottom clamp holding a mounting bracket 5'6 on whichthe pressure tank may rest. Alternatively, or in addition to thismounting, the pressure tank may be welded to the well casing at 58 and60. It will be understood, of course, that the pressure tank is largelysupported by the well casing and that the bottom of the pressure tank islocated below the frost line so water in the tank will never freeze. Thepressure tank is provided with a fitting 62 in which the pipe 64 isthreaded to deliver water from the pressure tank to the house.

The water level in the pressure tank is regulated by a conventionaliioat 66 connected by rod 68 to a pressure relief valve 7i) in the topof standpipe 72 to bleed air from the system whenever the water leveldrops below a predetermined level. The air volume control standpipe 72projects above grade within the ring shield 74. The pressure switch(also conventional) '76 is connected to the standpipe to controlenergization of the pump motor in the usual manner.

From the above description it will be apparent that the present systemcan be readily mounted on an existing or new well structure by merelyplacing the pressure tank adjacent the well casing and preferablyattaching it thereto so as to properly locate tank fitting 4d for drainpipe 34. Protective cover 78 can be placed over the well cap and ringshield to completely enclose the well cap (not an air-tight covering,however). The cover is secured to the well cap by means of bolt 80.

It will be seen that the present structure locates the check valve 22 atthe high point in the flow path and provides for draining of pipes 12and 34 at the end of each pump operation. The valve 22 would, of course,be wet at the conclusion of the operation and there is, of course, somedanger of the valve freezing in cold weather so that it could not openso as to prevent proper seating of the valve and, therefore, permittingpressure to bleed from tank 42. In order to guard against such freezingthe well cap is provided with a thermostatically controlled heater 82.The heater is located in a bore immediately adjacent the check valve andso positioned that it will heat the well cap around the valve. It shouldbe noted that the heater is of sheathed resistance type and about 250watts are necessary to maintain the Well cap suticiently warm to preventfreezing of the valve. While the cost of 250 watts of power is notexorbitant a simple thermostatic bulb 84 can be mounted in the well capimmediately adjacent the valve. This bulb can be set to energize theheater whenever the bulb temperature drops below 40 degrees. Since thewater flowing from the well is generally above this temperature, it willbe appreciated that even in winter the heater will not be energizedcontinuously since flowing water will heat up the well cap suiilcientlyto cause de-encrgization of the heater until the bulb has again cooledofi some period ottime after deenergization of the pump. The precisestructure of the thermostat bulb need not be illustrated as it is acommercially available product. Similarly the heater bulb is acommercially available product. Of course, the thermostaticallycontrolled electric heater requires electricity and this is brought inthrough wire 86 to junction box 88 which is a part of the well cap. Itwill be appreciated there is no particular difficulty in having thiselectricity available since the submersible pump requires electricityand the wiring must, therefore, be at the well anyhow.

Since the entire unit is in the form of the well cap it will beappreciated that it is a very simple matter to service the pump, forexample, since it is only necessary to relieve the packing around pipe34 by backing off nut 38 and then lifting the well cap with pipe 12still attached. Once clear of the drain pipe 34 pipe 12 may be grippedand cap 14 turned off the pipe whereupon the pipe can be pulled out tolift the pump out of the Well. For servicing either snifter valve 48 orthe check valve 22 the well cap is provided with plugs 90, 92,respectively, for gaining access through the ports to the valves. Thus,it is simple to remove plug 90 and then remove the snifter valve 48 forreplacement if this should be necessary. Similarly, removal of plug 92affords direct access to the check valve assembly which can be withdrawnthrough the port.

With this arrangement it is simple to install the system and there is nonecessity for cutting or welding below grade which would give rise toconfiict with sanitary codes.

Referring now to Figures 4 and 5, the modified structure thereinillustrated is designed to avoid unduly stressing the drop pipe 110 inthe event casing 112 is not cut off square. If the casing in the firstform is not square the pipe would have a considerable bending forceapplied to it. In the modified structure an adapter cap 114 is fittedover the top of the casing (it will be noted that the underside of cap114 is stepped to accommodate various casing diameters) to present aspherical convex surface 116 upon which the concave underside of housing118 may seat to position the pipe 110 on a true vertical and avoid allbending stress in the pipe. Suitable gaskets 120, 122 are employedrespectively between the adapter and the casing and between the housingand the adapter. Since the weight of the pump and pipe 110 is supportedby the housing a good seal is effected.

The housing also incorporates a different check valve arrangement whichis accessible from above and which is more readily heated by convectedair currents rising from the well water (which is about 45 year round)and hence will require less electric heating. The check valve 124 iscarried on stem 126 which passes through sleeve 128 carried by thesupport 130. Spring 132 biases the valve closed. The support has anO-ring seal 134 which seals the support with respect to the housing. Thesupport is not threaded into the housing but is retained therein by plugcap 136 bearing against spring 138 carried by bails 140 projecting abovethe support. Of course spring 138 is stronger than spring 132 so thevalve is opened by the water pressure and the support does not move. Itwill be apparent that removal of the plug 136 affords access to thevalve which can be removed bodily.

The housing is provided with the snifter valve 142 which is threadedinto the housing from below to clarify the principle of operation. Toservice this valve the housing would have to be raised. However, inpractice this valve would be threaded in from the top side to avoidraising the housing to service the valve.

The drain valve is positioned at the top of the pipe 112 whereconvection heating of the valve may occur in winter. The thermostat bulb144 is also positioned to be so heated in the space between the pipe andthe casing. The heater 146 is similarly situated adjacent the checkvalve support to effectively heat the valve as needed.

Gasket 148 between the housing outlet and pipe 150 leading to thepressure tank is modified to guard against damage due to freezing. Thusthe gasket has a sleeve-like extension 152 between the end of the pipeand the housing but of such thickness that it does not fill the space.If water collects in the space and then freezes it will compress thegasket rather than damage the housing.

The remainder of the structure is the same as previously described forall practical purposes. The operation and theory remain the same. Thetwo piece (Figures 4 and 5) well cap has certain advantages over the onepiece cap (Figures l-3) as does the second form of the check valve.

The simplicity of the present system resides in bringing the water abovegrade to a well cap containing all parts which might require service.

Although but two embodiments of the present invention have beenillustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in theart that various changes and modifications may be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of theappended claims.

We claim:

l. A well system comprising a well casing projecting above ground, awater delivery pipe within the casing, a water pressure tank adjacentthe casing and below the ground, a pipe connected to and communicatingwith the tank and projecting above ground, a well cap fitting over thetop of the casing and the pipes, and a conduit in the cap fluidlyconnecting the pipes.

2. A well system according to claim l including a drain hole in saiddelivery pipe located below the frost line, and a drain hole in the tankpipe located to drain the pipe into the tank.

3. A well system according to claim 2 in which the Water flow pathincluding the two pipes and the conduit in the cap is in the form of aninverted U, and a check valve in said flow path allowing flow from thedelivery pipe to the tank pipe and preventing reversal of the fiow.

4. A well system according to claim 3 in which the check valve islocated in said cap.

5. A well system according to claim 4 in which the cap is provided witha normally plugged access port for servicing the check valve.

6. A well system according to claim 5 including heating means locatedadjacent the check valve.

7. A well system according to claim 6 including a thermostat located insaid cap and controlling energization of the heating means.

8. A well system according to claim 7 including a second check valve inthe cap between the first named check valve and the delivery pipe toadmit air to the delivery pipe and to close when the pressure in thedelivery pipe is above atmospheric pressure.

9. A well cap comprising, a housing having a fitting adapted forconnection to a well casing, a conduit within the housing and having oneend terminating within said fitting and its other end communicating withthe exterior of the housing exteriorly of the fitting for connection toa pipe, and a check valve in said conduit permitting ow from said oneend to said other end of said conduit and preventing reversal of suchflow.

10. A well cap according to claim 9 in which the conduit is providedwith a port affording access to the check valve, and a closure plug forthe port.

1l. A well cap according to claim 9 in which the check valve ispositioned so water drains away from the valve when the housing ispositioned as in use with the fitting connected to the Well casing.

l2. A well cap according to claim 9 including another check valvelocated between the first named valve and said one end of said conduitto let air enter the conduit as the conduit drains.

13. A well cap according to claim 9 including an electrically energizedheater adjacent the valve to prevent freezing of the valve.

14. A well cap according to claim 13 including a thermostat forcontrolling energization of the heater.

15. A well cap according to claim 9 including seal means located at saidother end of said conduit.

16. A well system according to claim 1 including a check valve in saidconduit for preventing How from the tank pipe to the delivery pipe.

17. A well system according to claim 16 including means for drainingsaid pipes.

18. A well cap comprising, an annular adapter adapted to rest on a wellcasing, a housing adapted to rest on the adapter and having a conduittherethrough, one end of said conduit being central of said adapter andiluidly communicating with the central opening of the adapter when thehousing is on the adapter, and a check valve in said conduit allowingflow through the conduit from said one end but not to said one end.

19. A well cap according -to claim 18 in which the adapter has a convexupper surface and the housing has a concave lower surface adapted torest on the convex surface.

20. A well cap according to claim 18 in which the check valve and theseat therefor are a complete subassembly in that the valve and valveseat are a selfsupporting assembled unit and the sub-assembly isretained in the housing by spring means.

21. A well cap according to claim 2O in which the spring means actsbetween the sub-assembly-and an access plug in the housing, removal ofthe plug removing the spring force on the sub-assembly and afordingaccess thereto for removal from the housing.

22. A well cap according to claim 18 in which the adapter is providedwith a plurality of concentric annular seats adapted to rest on wellcasings of various diameters.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS WagonerOct. 20, 1936 Meisner Feb. 14, 1950 Van Ackeren July 22, 1952

